Alebtong, Uganda – Over 300 farmers in Abia Sub County have registered to embrace coffee cultivation, signaling a shift towards a crop with the potential to transform livelihoods and bolster household incomes.
The decision, made on January 6, 2025, reflects growing discontent with the declining profitability of traditional crops like cotton, maize, and sunflower.
Mr. Ongom Lameck, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Alebtong, urged farmers across Lango Sub-region to prioritize coffee farming as a viable alternative.
“Cotton has been a staple for decades, but its fortunes are dwindling. Coffee offers an opportunity to elevate incomes and ensure economic stability,” he said.
Coffee farming, introduced to Lango Sub-region in 1997 under Operation Wealth Creation, has steadily gained recognition as a high-value cash crop.
Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) reports that coffee exports during the 2023/2024 coffee year reached 6.35 million bags, generating US$ 1.4 billion in revenue.
Moses Ogwal, the District Agricultural Officer, emphasized the crop’s transformative potential.
“Coffee is a major source of income for smallholder farmers globally, contributing significantly to export earnings. For farmers in Alebtong, it’s a chance to diversify income streams and escape the challenges of low-yield seasonal crops,” he noted.
Farmers ready to join this coffee revolution have been advised to begin preparations for the next planting season. Ogwal encouraged them to plant Robusta coffee, a variety well-suited to Northern Uganda’s hot climate.
He assured farmers of support through training and sensitization programs provided by extension workers.
The push for coffee farming comes amid challenges with traditional crops. Cotton, once a pillar of the region’s agricultural economy, has become less profitable, leaving many households struggling to make ends meet.
By switching to coffee, farmers in Alebtong hope to replicate the success seen in other regions of Uganda where coffee farming has alleviated poverty and boosted rural development.
The decision to expand coffee farming reflects broader efforts to diversify the agricultural economy in Northern Uganda.
Stakeholders, including the government and UCDA, are optimistic that this shift will not only uplift individual farmers but also strengthen the region’s contribution to Uganda’s growing coffee export industry.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Akello Rosemary, a resident of Abia Sub County, expressed optimism about the change.
“We’ve struggled for years with crops that don’t pay enough. Coffee gives us hope for a brighter future,” she said.
The farmers of Alebtong join a nationwide movement to harness coffee’s potential as a crop of resilience and prosperity.
Original Story: Lira Diocese News Agency